Adjustable fan speed

ABSTRACT

A fan assembly includes a fan and a control module. The fan includes an adjustable fan speed. The fan generates a rate of air flow in a direction to cool a power supply unit of an electronic system based on the adjustable fan speed. The control module includes a comparator having a plurality of comparator inputs and a comparator output. The control module communicates with the fan to adjust the adjustable fan speed based on a value provided by the comparator output.

BACKGROUND

A fan may generate and direct air flow to cool off a power supply unit of an electronic system. The power supply unit may get hot as it provides power to the electronic system. The fan may generate and direct the air flow at a constant rate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting examples are described in the following description, read with reference to the figures attached hereto and do not limit the scope of the claims. Dimensions of components and features illustrated in the figures are chosen primarily for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily to scale. Referring to the attached figures:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a fan assembly according to an example.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a fan assembly in communication with a power supply unit of an electronic system according to an example.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic system according to an example.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the electronic system of FIG. 3 according to an example.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a fan to cool a power supply unit of an electronic system according to an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A fan may generate and direct air flow to cool off a power supply unit of an electronic system. The power supply unit may get hot as it provides power to the electronic system. The fan may generate and direct the air flow at a constant rate and/or direction. At times, however, a secondary fan to cool off electronic components of the electronic system may create an environment proximate to the power supply unit of high pressure and/or air back flow. That is, the secondary fan may cool off the electronic components, for example, with a higher fan speed and/or have larger size fan blades than the fan resulting in a high pressure. Air back flow, for example, may be the flow of air changing its direction from that intended. Under such conditions, the rate and/or direction of the air flow generated by the fan may compete with and adversely affect the rate and/or direction of the air flow generated by the secondary fan. Thus, under such conditions, the fan generating and directing the air flow at the constant rate and/or at the constant direction may result in the cooling of the power supply unit in an inefficient manner.

In examples, a fan assembly includes a fan and a control module. The fan includes an adjustable fan speed. The fan also generates a rate of air flow in a direction to cool a power supply unit of an electronic system based on the adjustable fan speed. The control module includes a comparator having a plurality of comparator inputs and a comparator output. The control module communicates with the fan to adjust the adjustable fan speed based on a value provided by the comparator output. At times, for example, when the power supply unit is in an environment of high pressure and/or air back flow such as that caused by a secondary fan, the air flow rate and/or air flow direction caused by the fan may change to achieve thermal balance in the electronic system and efficiency in the cooling of the power supply unit.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a fan assembly according to an example. The fan assembly 100 may be usable with a power supply unit of an electronic system. Referring to FIG. 1, in some examples, the fan assembly 100 includes a fan 10 and a control module 11. The fan 10 may include an adjustable fan speed 10 a. That is, the rate of air flow generated by the fan 10 may be selectively changed. Additionally, in some examples, the direction of air flow generated by the fan 10 may be changed. The fan 10 may generate a rate of air flow in a direction to cool the power supply unit based on the adjustable fan speed 10 a. That is, the amount of air provided by the fan 10 over a period of time may be increased or decreased. Further, the direction of air flow generated by the fan 20 may be changed.

Referring to FIG. 1, in some examples, the control module 11 includes a comparator 12 having a plurality of comparator inputs 13 and a comparator output 14. The control module 11 may communicate with the fan 10 to adjust the adjustable fan speed 10 a based on a value provided by the comparator output 14. The value produced by the comparator output 14 is based on a comparison of information (e.g., signals) received by the comparator inputs 13. In some examples, the value provided by the comparator output 14 may correspond to real-time conditions of the power supply unit, air pressure and/or air flow proximate thereto, and the like, based on the information received by the comparator inputs 13.

In some examples, the control module 11 may be implemented in hardware, software including firmware, or combinations thereof. The firmware, for example, may be stored in memory and executed by a suitable instruction-execution system. If implemented in hardware, as in an alternative example, the control module 11 may be implemented with any or a combination of technologies which are well known in the art (for example, discrete-logic circuits, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable-gate arrays (PGAs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)), and/or other later developed technologies. For example, the control module 11 may be implemented in an electronic circuit. In other examples, the control module 11 may be implemented in a combination of software and data executed and stored under the control of a computing device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a fan assembly in communication with a power supply unit of an electronic system according to an example. In some examples, a fan assembly 100 includes the fan 10 and the control module 11 as previously described with respect to FIG. 1. The electronic system may include electronic components 26 to perform various functions of the electronic system. The power supply unit 25 may provide power to the electronic components 26. Referring to FIG. 2, in some examples, the control module 11 may include a comparator 12 having a plurality of comparator inputs 13 and a comparator output 14. The control module 11 may communicate with the fan 10 to adjust the adjustable fan speed 10 a based on a value provided by the comparator output 14 based on a comparison of information received by the comparator inputs 13.

The control module 11 may also communicate with the fan 10 to change the direction of air flow generated by the fan 10. In some examples, a respective one of the comparator inputs is configured to receive a positive input corresponding to a fan input level. For example, the positive input may correspond to a fixed voltage level corresponding to constant reference signal. Another one of the comparator inputs is configured to receive a negative input from the electronic system. In some examples, the negative input may correspond to current thermal conditions of the electronic system, secondary fan running status, and the like, to determine, for example, whether high pressure exists. The monitoring of differences in temperature distribution may identify whether high pressure and/or air back flow exists. In some examples, the value provided by the comparator output 14 may correspond to real-time conditions of the power supply unit 25, air pressure and/or air flow proximate thereto, and the like, based on the information received by the comparator inputs 13.

Referring to FIG. 2, in some examples, the control module 11 is configured to adjust the adjustable fan speed 10 a in response to a change in the value of the comparator output 14. For example, the control module 11 may be configured to increase the adjustable fan speed 10 a in response to an increase in the value of the comparator output 14. The control module 11 may also be configured to decrease the adjustable fan speed 10 a in response to a decrease in the value of the comparator output 14. For example, depending on the rate and/or direction of air flow generated by the secondary an 20, the rate and/or direction of air flow generated by the fan 10 may be changed by the control module 11. For example, the rate of air flow and/or direction of the air flow generated by the fan 10 may be changed to not compete against the rate of air flow and/or direction of the air flow generated by the secondary fan 20. Thus, the control module 11 may control the fan 10 to achieve thermal balance in the electronic system and increase efficiency in the cooling of the power supply unit 25.

In some examples, the control module 11 is configured to change a frequency of a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to form a changed PWM signal. The control module 11 may provide the changed PWM signal to the fan 10. In some examples, the control module 11 is configured to control the fan 10 to change the rate of air flow generated by the fan 10 to cool the power supply unit 25 based on the adjustable fan speed 10 a. In some examples, the control module 11 is configured to control the fan 10 to change the direction of air flow generated by the fan 10 based on a change-of-direction condition. Thus, the creation of ventilation or suction by the fan 10 based on existing conditions of the electronic system may cool the power supply unit 25 in an efficient manner,

In some examples, the change-of-direction condition may correspond to a second fan 20 of the electronic system generating a respective rate of air flow in a respective direction. That is, in some examples, the second fan 20 may cause high pressure and/or air back flow proximate to the power supply unit, 25 of the electronic system. Such existing conditions may be identified by the comparison of the comparator inputs and the resulting comparator output. In some examples, the rate of air flow caused by the fan 10 may be less than the respective rate of air flow caused by the second fan 20. Thus, power consumed by the fan 10 to cool the power supply unit 25 may be reduced.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic system according to an example. Referring to FIG. 3, in some examples, an electronic system 300 includes a plurality of electronic components 26, a power supply unit 25, and a fan assembly 100 including a fan 10, and a control module 11 according to an example. The electronic components 26 may provide various functions of the electronic system 300. The power supply unit 25 may provide power to the electronic components 26. The fan assembly 100 may include the fan 10 having an adjustable fan speed 10 a. The fan 10 may generate a rate of air flow in a direction to cool the power supply unit 25 based on the adjustable fan speed 10 a, In some examples, the fan assembly 100 includes the control module 11.

Referring to FIG. 3, in some examples, the control module 11 includes a comparator 12 having a plurality of comparator inputs 13, and a comparator output 14. The control module 11 may communicate with the fan 10 to adjust the adjustable fan speed 10 a based on a value provided by the comparator output 14 based on a comparison of the information received by the comparator inputs 13. In some examples, the control module 11 may access a look-up table based on existing conditions of and proximate to the power supply unit 25. For example, the look-up table may include a set of preconditions in which a respective precondition may correspond to the existing condition of the electronic system 300. Additionally, the look-up table may also include corresponding recommended actions for each of the preconditions such as a suggested air flow rate and/or air flow direction to be provided by the fan 10,

In some examples, the control module 11 may be implemented in hardware, software including firmware, or combinations thereof. The firmware, for example, may be stored in memory and executed by a suitable instruction-execution system. If implemented in hardware, as in an alternative example, the control module 11 may be implemented with any or a combination of technologies which are well known in the art (for example, discrete-logic circuits, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable-gate arrays (PGAs), programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)), and/or other later developed technologies. For example, the control module 11 may be implemented in an electronic circuit. In other examples, the control module 11 may be implemented in a combination of software and data executed and stored under the control of a computing device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the electronic system of FIG. 3 according to an example. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in some examples, the electronic system 300 may include the plurality of electronic components 26, the power supply unit 25, and the fan assembly 100 including the fan 10, and the control module 11 previously described with respect to FIG. 3. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in some examples, the electronic system 300 may also include a second fan 20. The second fan 20 may cool the electronic components 26 of the electronic system 300. The second fan 20 may generate a rate of air flow in a respective direction. In some examples, the control module 11 may control the fan 10 to change a respective rate of air flow and/or direction based on a respective direction of air flow generated by the second fan 20. For example, the rate of air flow and/or direction of the air flow generated by the fan 10 may be changed to not compete against the rate of air flow and/or direction of the air flow generated by the secondary fan 20. Thus, the control module 11 may control the fan 10 to achieve thermal balance in the electronic system 300 and increase efficiency in the cooling of the power supply unit 25.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a fan to cool a power supply unit of an electronic system according to an example. In some examples, the modules and/or assemblies implementing the method may be those described in relation to the fan assembly 100 and the electronic system 300 of FIGS. In block S510, a rate of air flow is generated in a direction by a fan with an adjustable fan speed to cool the power supply unit based on the adjustable fan speed. In block S512, a control module including a comparator having a plurality of comparator inputs and a comparator output communicates with the fan to adjust the adjustable fan speed based on a value provided by the comparator output such that the control module adjusts the adjustable fan speed in response to a change in the value of the comparator output.

Referring to FIG. 5, for example, the adjustable fan speed may be increased in response to an increase in the value of the comparator output. Additionally, the adjustable fan speed may be decreased in response to a decrease in the value of the comparator output. The method may also include controlling the fan by the control module to change a direction of air flow generated by the fan based on a change-of-direction condition. In some examples, the change-of-direction condition may be identified by the comparison of the comparator inputs and the resulting comparator output. Thus, the control module 11 may control the fan 10 to achieve thermal balance in the electronic system and increase efficiency in the cooling of the power supply unit 25.

It is to be understood that the flowchart of FIG. 5 illustrates architecture, functionality, and/or operation of examples of the present disclosure. If embodied in software, each block may represent a module, segment, or portion of code that includes one or more executable instructions to implement the specified logical function(s). If embodied in hardware, each block may represent a circuit or a number of interconnected circuits to implement the specified logical function(s). Although the flowchart of FIG. 5 illustrates a specific order of execution, the order of execution may differ from that which is depicted. For example, the order of execution of two or more blocks may be rearranged relative to the order illustrated. Also, two or more blocks illustrated in succession in FIG. 5 may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence. All such variations are within the scope of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure has been described using non-limiting detailed descriptions of examples thereof that are not intended to limit the scope of the general inventive concept. It should be understood that features and/or operations described with respect to one example may be used with other examples and that not all examples have all of the features and/or operations illustrated in a particular figure or described with respect to one of the examples. Variations of examples described will occur to persons of the art. Furthermore, the terms “comprise,” “include,” “have” and their conjugates, shall mean, when used in the disclosure and/or claims, “including but not necessarily limited to.”

It is noted that some of the above described examples may include structure, acts or details of structures and acts that may not be essential to the general inventive concept and which are described for illustrative purposes. Structure and acts described herein are replaceable by equivalents, which perform the same function, even if the structure or acts are different, as known in the art. Therefore, the scope of the general inventive concept is limited only by the elements and limitations as used in the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fan assembly usable with a power supply unit of an electronic system, the fan assembly comprising: a fan having an adjustable fan speed, the fan to generate a rate of air flow in a direction to cool the power supply unit, based on the adjustable fan speed; and a control module including a comparator having a plurality of comparator inputs and a comparator output, the control module to communicate with the fan to adjust the adjustable fan speed based on a value provided by the comparator output.
 2. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein a respective one of the comparator inputs is configured to receive a positive input with a fan input level and another one of the comparator inputs is configured to receive a negative input from the electronic system.
 3. The fan assembly of claim 2, wherein the control module is configured to adjust the adjustable fan speed in response to a change in the value of the comparator output.
 4. The fan assembly of claim 2, wherein the control module is configured to increase the adjustable fan speed in response to an increase in the value of the comparator output.
 5. The fan assembly of claim 2, wherein the control module is configured to decrease the adjustable fan speed in response to a decrease in the value of the comparator output.
 6. The fan assembly of claim 2, wherein the control module is configured to change a frequency of a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to form a changed PWM signal, and provide the changed PWM signal to the fan.
 7. The fan assembly of claim 2, wherein the control module is configured to control the fan to generate a rate of air flow in a respective direction based on a change-of-direction condition.
 8. The fan assembly of claim 7, wherein the control module is configured to change the direction of the air flow generated by the fan based on the change-of-direction condition.
 9. The fan assembly of claim 7, wherein the change-of-direction condition corresponds to a second fan of the electronic system generating a rate of air flow in an opposite direction than the air flow direction generated by the fan.
 10. An electronic system, comprising: a plurality of electronic components; a power supply unit to provide power to the electronic components; and a fan assembly including a fan and a control module; the fan having an adjustable fan speed, the fan to generate a rate of air flow in a direction to cool the power supply unit based on the adjustable fan speed; and the control module including a comparator having a plurality of comparator inputs and a comparator output, the control module to communicate with the fan to adjust the adjustable fan speed based on a value provided by the comparator output.
 11. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein the fan assembly further comprises: a second fan to cool the electronic components, the second fan to generate a rate of air flow in a direction.
 12. The electronic system of claim 11, wherein the control module is configured to control the fan to change the direction of air flow generated by the fan based on a respective direction of air flow generated by the second fan.
 13. A method of controlling a fan to cool a power supply unit of an electronic system, the method comprising: generating a rate of air flow in a direction by the fan with an adjustable fan speed to cool the power supply unit based on the adjustable fan speed; and communicating with the fan by a control module including a comparator having a plurality of comparator inputs and a comparator output to adjust the adjustable fan speed based on a value provided by the comparator output such that the control module adjusts the adjustable fan speed in response to a change in the value of the comparator output.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the communicating with the fan by a control module including a comparator having a plurality of comparator inputs and a comparator output to adjust the adjustable fan speed further comprises: increasing the adjustable fan speed in response to an increase in the value of the comparator output; and decreasing the adjustable fan speed in response to a decrease in the value of the comparator output.
 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising: controlling the fan by the control module to change the direction of air flow generated by the fan based on a change-of-direction condition. 